Three Assailants

I’ve always said I am not a blogger, but rather a consultant with a blog section of my site which I don’t use much.  Sorry to repeat myself for those who know me already, but for those who may be visiting my site for the first time… I just don’t have a lot of time for writing between caring for my family (6 kids, including a 4 month old at the time of this post), volunteering in my local community (my hubby and I moved from the States in 2015 to work with a small independent church in England with big vision), and serving my Miessence customers and team of reps around the world (which I love doing and which keeps me busy with messages and emails to answer every day).

Plus, there are so many voices ‘out there’ writing about natural health and wellness topics, that I just don’t feel the need to add my voice to the already massive pile of web articles at this time.  I do have a lot of thoughts on this broad topic of natural health from other angles (beyond the science of nutrition and bio-chemistry that most articles address) that someday I’d love to write about, but for now, I’ll just keep ‘pondering all these things in my heart’ until the time is right and I have time to write.  🙂  I still haven’t even had a chance to write up a report about David’s amazing home birth back in November…  Not sure when I’ll get that done, if ever…  🙂

That said, I got an email from a lovely lady named Charlotte back in October, just before the baby was born.  She owns the website HomeSafetyHub.org, and she asked me about possibly doing a guest post for my blog.  I told her I’d be happy to consider it, but couldn’t until some time in the new year, since I was about to go into hibernation for my babymoon.

When I finally emerged from babymoon and got a chance to read her article, I was impressed with less common info and the short “quick tips” style of writing – very easy to read.  Out there on the interwebs we tend to hear most about real food nutrition issues and natural nutritional supplement products and toxic chemicals in personal care or cleaning products and where to find non-toxic options.  But we don’t often think about other aspects of our homes that could be causing illness.

So with that, I’m happy to share with you Charlotte’s article, How to Tell if Your Home is Making You Sick…  Charlotte enjoys collecting resources and educational materials to share with people who wish to keep their homes safe – and her article below gives you quick insights into three common health assailants in your home that you may not have considered already.  Enjoy!

Disclosure statement – I have no official connection with Charlotte or financial interest in her website HomeSafetyHub.org and do not necessarily agree with everything on her site.  The only financial connections I have within this blog post are via the links back to my Miessence shop site – my customers pay the same prices and get the same discount rates as they would through the company directly, but the company sends me a thank you commission, on purchases made through my referral shop site, for recommending their products – which I also love and use personally in my own home, as a genuinely happy customer myself… especially their superfoods.  🙂

———————————–

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR HOME IS MAKING YOU SICK

If you or your family members suffer from headaches, eye, nose, or throat irritation, sneezing, or coughing several months out of the year, it might not be allergies that are the problem; it could be your home. It’s difficult to think about–especially if you already spend several hours a week making sure your home is a clean and comfortable environment for your loved ones–but it’s important to be aware of some of the issues that can cause illness and how to spot them.

While there are no true tests for some of these issues–for instance, an excess of dust or pet dander that causes breathing issues–you can generally tell if your home is the problem if you experience any of those symptoms within an hour of entering and notice that they go away when you leave. Being aware of these symptoms in your family members can help you narrow down the cause.

For some problems, there are tests, and it’s important to know what these are and have them done on any home that is older than twenty-five years, just to be on the safe side–especially if you’re buying a home. Inspections are key before the move-in date, especially where radon, asbestos, and lead paint are concerned, as these can cause cancers that lie dormant for years, undetected.

There are also common household items that could be causing trouble, but fortunately there are easy ways to change all that. Here are a few to look for.

Furnace/HVAC filters

It’s important to change your filters often–every month or so during the hottest and coldest months, when they get the most use–so they don’t accrue bacteria and become overloaded with dust, which can cause your heating and cooling systems to work harder.

Faucets

If you look carefully, you’ll see a little metal screen on the underside of the faucet in the bathroom and kitchen. You should be able to remove the screen and clean it in a hot water/bleach solution to keep it from gathering bacteria and mold, which can break off and fall into pots and pans, glasses of water, and food.

Carpets

Your carpets are likely a big cause of irritation, especially if someone in your home suffers from asthma. No matter how often you vacuum, there’s likely to be dust mites, pet dander, and even fecal matter in the fibers (unless you have a strict no-shoes rule in your home). To nip these issues in the bud, vacuum often and have your carpets steam-cleaned once every couple of months, or consider tearing it up and replacing it with laminate flooring.